ADVENT/COUNTDOWN CANDLE
I'll write more about the Advent season, wreaths etc later. The season is not one that was officially practiced in my church background, but it has become meaningful to me.
HOWEVER, we like to have an Advent Countdown candle. I take a candle, make 24 marks on it, burn a mark each night during our family circle. The children can see Christmas approaching. The last bit of our candle is burned on Christmas Eve.
Additionally, I have an online friend who burns a candle each year. She has invited friends and family to burn it with her at a set time - across the miles. It takes just a moment to know that you are thinking of those who are blessed in your life but not with you and then I add a quick prayer. I've done this alone, because it is usually strange times for the children. This year, I'm thinking of coordinating with Mike and giving it a shot...
8 comments:
DeEtta,
I like the Advent countdown candle; I'll have to try to remember to do that one next year.
This year we have our Advent wreath (we light candles nightly and pray), we have our Jesse tree ornaments (read Bible verses and the devotional)and the great REC at our chapel :) bought each of the kids their own age appropriate advent devotional book.... drats I just remembered she ordered adult ones as well... I need to go do today's page before the day is over....
I love the idea of the Advent countdown and also the lighting a candle at a designated time with someone far away.
I hope you and Mike and coordinate it. That would be a very special time to share together.
De'Etta,
For us creatively impaired folks, where might I find an Advent wreath or, at least, the candles to purchase? I managed to miss the wreath making at the chapel both years.=(
Kristine in SA
Kristine,
A few places to find an advent wreath - florist's shop for a fresh one, local Catholic book/giftshop (if one exists in your area) or an online Catholic store.....
(not pretending to be DeEtta but knows about ADvent wreaths and has also never made one at chapel; our chaplain didn't want to do it when we proposed the idea this year)
Love the idea of countdown candle too. Just looked at your current reading list, you're going in many directions at the same time! I can usually only keep one or two books going at the same time. Usually a fiction and a non fiction.
Kristine...for a wreath Renee gave you some good ideas. ALSO we've done this a variety of ways. Buy a plain straw wreath and stick 4 candle holders in it - all avaialalbe at HObby Lobby or Michaels. Buy a pine wreath, stick candle holders in it....see above note...buy the straw wreath and wrap garlands around it, then ribbons and such....insert candle holders....In other words visit HObby Lobby and you will find all you need to make one. I've found advent tapers (3 purple, 1 pink) at Hobby Lobby last week. Also....many Protestants burn a white pillar candle in the middle of their wreath - the Christ Candle on Christmas Day and then through Ephipany - January 6, I believe. Some Catholics do this and some do not...our Father here told me that advent is OVER on Christmas day and the whole wreath goes away.....other Priests I've known do the Christ Candle until the Jan thing.
For a countdown candle...any candle will do and mark it off. I got a pillar one this year and am realizing a taper candle of some sort will be best. This is nice but it will have to burn all day, every day to burn down by Christmas.....the tapers can burn for 15-30 minutes while we do advent readings and it goes down quickly. LOL
Yes, if you are wondering, my first advent wreath - about 13 years ago was one of those straw wreaths that I stuck candles into - didn't even know there were such things as candle holders. I only got real GREEN ones with ribbons and such when I began to go to Chapel advent workshops year after year....
I did read earlier today that my advent wreath is supposed to be put away once Christmas arrives... but I leave it on the table until I put away all the Christmas decorations.... in the center of our wreath is a statue of Santa looking at the infant Jesus in the manger...
Hope the coordinating w/Mike on the advent candle works out.
A note of triva from my PartyLite candle consultant days. It came to mind when I read you'd bought a pillar candle this year instead of a taper.
The general rule with a pillar candle is to burn it at least 1 hour for every inch in diameter.
So, 6 inch diameter = 6 hours burn.
Post a Comment